Mechanism for assorting reeds



(No Modal.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

o. CORCQRAN. Mechanism for ss'orting Reeds. No. 237,962. .Patented Feb.. 22,1881.

Wilrl E 5 54E s.

(rnylmmlel.)l 2 sheetssheen 2.

' 0.V OOROORAN.

V l/Iehanism'for` Assorting Reeds. w I No. 237,962. Patented Feb. 422, 1:881.

NPETERS, PHUTO-UTHOGRAPMER, WASHINGTON4 D. C.

Unfrren Stearns OWEN CORGORAN, OF WAKEFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

MECHANISIVI FORASSORTlNG REEDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 237,962, dated February 22, 1881.

Application filed November 1l, 1880.

(No model To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, OWEN GoRooRAN, of Wakefield, county of Middlesex, and State ot Massachusetts, have invented a new and usei'ul Improvement in Mechanism for Assorting Reeds, Canes, dre., of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

This invention relates to and has for its object the production of an organized apparatus by which to assort, as to size, pieces ot' cane, reed, Src., to be used in various branches of manufacture, wherein it is desired to separate the said pieces and employ them according to their diameter or thickness.

In this apparatus I have employed a xed jaw, and have opposed toit a movable jaw, leaving between them a tapering space for the reception of the article or thing to be assorted, as to its size, the said articlebeing forced down between the said jaws until it moves one of them as far as the diameter or thickness of the article is capable ot' doing. This movable jaw is connected by a system of lever's and rods with an indicatingfinger, which, as the jaw is moved, travels over an index or scale provided with a series of figures or other suitable marks, the finger stopping opposite one of them according to the diameter or thickness of the thing then pressed between thejaws, thus enabling the person who is as-` sorting the canes, reeds, &c.to readily distinguish the size or thickness of each particular reed or cane and place it in its appropriate pile ot' corresponding-sized reeds or canes. Connected with the apparatus for moving this linger is a pawl-operator having a projection to operate the pawl of a counting mechanism, which, byits movement, indicates or counts one for every time movement of the movable jaws and linger.

Figure l represents, in side elevation, in full lines, an apparatus containing my improvements, the dotted lines showing one ofthe jaws moved as itwill be when an article such as a cane orreed has been passed into the space between the jaws. Fig. 2 -is a top view ot' Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a view of Fig. 1, looking at it from the left.

In the said drawings, a. represents the framework of the apparatus, -it being of suitable or less distance, according shape to sustain the working parts. Thejaw b is fixed to the frame-work by screws b', and the jaw c, having, as herein shown, a ,long sha-nk, c', is made movable with relation to the jaw b, the shank c of the said jaw sliding in boxes-or guidesc2 c3. At its outer end this shank c otl the jaw c has apin, 2, or equivalent, which enters a notch in the short arm of an elbow or other suitable connecting-lever, d, pivoted at d2, and having the end of its long arm joined by a slot-and-piu connection with a sliding bar, e, held iu suitable guide-s e', the sliding bar having a pin, e?, which enters a slotin the lower end ot' an indicating-linger,f, pivoted a-tf. The upper end of this finger is arranged to travel backward and forward, as shown by full and dotted lines, Fig. 3, over a scale or index, g, having upon it suitable ligures or numbers toindicate sizes. The spring h exerts a constant pressure or pull on the lever d, which tends to keep itin its full-line position, Fig. 2, with the jaw c pressed forward in contact with the jaw b, the indicating-iingerf then standing as in full lines., Fig. 3.

The reed, cane, or other thing, j, shown in dotted lines, Figs. l and 2, ot' greater or less diameter or thickness, when forced down into the wedging or tapering space 4, (see Fig. 1,) between the xed and movable jaws b c, will force the movable jaw c backward for a greater to the diameter or thickness ot' the reed, cane, or other thing between the said jaws, and will col'isequently move the indicating-iingerf a greater or less distance along over the scale g toward the right, (see Fig. 3;) but as soon as the jaw c has been moved as far as the diameter or thickness ofthe thing being tested is capable of moving it the movement of the finger stops and indicates to the operator the size of the reed or cane then between the jaws, when the said reed or cane may be removed and placed in its appropriate pile.

Connected with the slide-rod e', for operating the indicating-1in ger, is an adjustable pawloperator or projection, l, carried in a bracket, m, made adjustable by a screw, m', on. the said rod c. This projection Zhas its upper end beveled or inclined, as at 5, so that when the rod c is moved to traverse the indicating-tin ger to the right over the index it will strike and turn the pawl m2 and cause it to turn the ratchet m3 one tooth; but when the projection passes back from the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3, to that shown in full lines, itsinclined top will strike against the lower end of the pawl and will be forced down, or will yield and not operate the pawl.

The shaft m4, upon which the-ratchet m3 is mounted, has a ringer, m5, which is arranged to travel over a dial, m6, having marked upon it, as herein shown, frfty spaces or units. The shaft m4, at its other end, (see Figs. I and 2,) has a worm to engage a worm-wheel, n, secured on a shaft, uf, having attached to it a nger, a2, adapted to rotate about or over the dial n3, marked to indicate units ot' a higher scale, as hundreds or thousands.

It is obvious that this apparatus may be used to assort, as to size, any cylindrical, square, or strip-like articles, so I do not confine its use to cane and reeds alone, notwithstanding this is one of the particular uses for which I have found the apparatus eminently useful. By the term strip I therefore mean to include any strip-like article, whether more or less round or tlat in cross-section, and by the said term Iintend to include reeds, canes, and other thin gs which can be appropriately assorted, as to diameter or thickness,between the said jaws.

I claim- 1. An organized strip-assorting'apparatus, composed, essentially, ot' the xed jaw b, the movable jaw c, an indicating-linger, f, and scale g, alever, d, interposed between the movable jaw and indicating-finger, and positively connected therewith by movable joints, as shown, and a spring connected to said lever to act upon the movable jaw and iin ger, whereby the movement of the said jaw by a strip interposed between it and the iixed jaw will actnate the tin ger to indicate the size 0r thickness ot' said strip, substantially as described.

2. A fixed jaw, b, movable jaw c, spring-le ver d, indicating-linger f, slide c, spring projection l, and a recording mechanism operated thereby, combined, as specified, whereby the size or thickness of a given article is indicated and the number of such articles recorded, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have name to this specification in two subscribing witnesses.

OWEN CORCORAN.

signed my the presence ot' Witnesses G. W. GREGORY, ARTHUR REYNOLDS. 

